Injury-hit Raiders the gutsiest team in the NRL

Andrew Moore | 25/08/08 | 0

VIDEO - Sharks, Raiders rule: Andrew Moore's weekend wrap

Cronulla has made a believer out of me, although admittedly it’s taken 24 rounds, and Canberra has to be the gutsiest team in the competition. That’s what comes out of the weekend’s action so far.

On Friday night the Sharks whitewashed the struggling Sydney Roosters 20-0, but, to be frank, the Roosters never looked like scoring.

Cronulla’s win came because of brutal defence, a great kicking game from Brett Kimmorley and a pretty smart attack.

Now I know the Sharks struggle to score tries, and they don’t have any speed, but they attack well in terms of punching holes up the middle of the ruck. They’re always making good metres downfield and backing it up with a sensational kick chase game.

This team may not win the competition – I still believe Melbourne will again hold the trophy aloft – but whoever does beat them in the finals will have to play out of their skins to do so.

Mind you, much of the fate of their season now rests with the courts, after star player Greg Bird was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.

So we get to Canberra. Seriously, how can you not admire this team?

By far and away the Raiders – predicted by many, including me, to win the wooden spoon – have the worst injury toll in the NRL, they have had all year long, not to mention their so-called star player Todd Carney being sacked several weeks ago.

Now they’re done to 17 fit players to choose from. If anyone gets injured at training this week, they’ll have to go to park football to call on someone.

The Raiders looked like they were crashing back to earth with a thud at half time in yesterday’s game against South Sydney, trailing 19-6 at half time. And then they found out in the dressing room that young halfback Marc Herbert had suffered a knee injury and is gone for the rest of the season.

Then, prop Troy Thompson, who’s been outstanding this year, injured his Achilles – so he’s also out for the year.

So what did the Canberra players do? Bow their head? Give up the ghost?

Not on your life.

They went back out  there and proceeded to score the next 34 points and win comfortably.

This is a team with extraordinary character, and it’s great to see.